Toluidine Blue-Alizarin Red S Staining of Cartilage and Bone in Whole-Mount Skeletons in Vitro

Cartilage and bone of the developing skeleton can be reliably differentiated in whole-mount preparations with toluidine blue-alizarin red S staining after FAA fixation. The recommended staining procedure is based chiefly on the use of newborn white and Swiss-Webster mice, 4-9 days postnatal, but was tested also on mice and rats 3-8 wk of age. Procedure: Sacrifice, skin, eviscerate, remove body fat, and place specimens in FAA (formalin, 1; acetic acid, 1; 70% alcohol, 8) for approximately 40 min. Stain in 0.06% toluidine blue made in 70% ethyl alcohol for 48 hr at room temperature. Use 20 volumes of stain solution to the estimated volume of the specimen. Destain soft tissues in 35% ethyl alcohol, 20 hr; 50%, 28 hr; and 70%, 8 hr. Counterstain in a freshly prepared 1% aqueous solution of KOH to which is added 2-3 drops of 0.1% alizarin red S per 100 ml of solution. Each day for 3 days, transfer the specimen to a fresh 1% KOH-alizarin mixture, or until the bones have reached the desired intensity of red and soft tissues have cleared. Rinse in water, and place in a 1:1 mixture of glycerol and ethyl alcohol for 1-2 hr, then transfer the specimen to fresh glycerol-alcohol for final clearing and storage. Older mice and rats require procedural modifications: (1) fixation for 2 hr, (2) 0.12% toluidine blue, (3) maceration for 4 days in 3% KOH-alizarin, and (4) preliminary clearing for 24 hr in a mixture of glycerol, 2; 70% ethyl alcohol, 2; and benzyl alcohol, 1 (v/v) before placing in a 1:1 alcohol-glycerol mixture.     

Studies on Disinfection of Clinical Thermometers: II. Oral Thermometers from a Tuberculosis Sanatorium

A study was made of the chemical disinfection of oral thermometers used by patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Only 10% of these thermometers were found to be contaminated with acid-fast bacilli. Because of this small number, the use of a phenol coefficient type test with Mycobacterium tuberculosis was suggested as an alternative method for evaluating tuberculocidal activity. These data, in conjunction with data from Part I of these studies dealing with disinfection of oral thermometers from a general hospital, were the criteria used to judge the efficacy of the disinfectants. It was concluded that 70% ethyl alcohol, 2% phenolic no. 1, and 3% phenolic no. 3 were reliable disinfectants for thermometers. Fifty per cent ethyl alcohol, 2% phenolic no. 2, 2% iodophor (300 ppm available iodine), and 0.1% benzalkonium chloride, aqueous or tincture, were unreliable.     

Block staining of mammalian tissues with hematoxylin and eosin

Various mammalian tissues were stained en bloc with hematoxylin and eosin after fixation and prior to embedding in paraffin wax and sectioning. The choice of fixative is important and best results are obtained using Worcester's Fluid, a combination of saturated aqueous mercuric chloride, formaldehyde, and glacial acetic acid. After fixation, blocks of tissue up to 1.5 cm thick are stained for seven days in hematoxylin. Excess stain is removed by washing tissues in running water overnight. Tissue blocks then are dehydrated with graded concentrations of ethyl alcohols to 80% and counterstained, with further dehydration, in 0.5% spirit soluble eosin in 90% ethyl alcohol for five days. The tissue is subsequently transferred to 90% ethyl alcohol overnight to differentiate eosin staining; dehydration is completed in absolute ethyl alcohol. The blocks are cleared in in cedarwood oil and briefly in xylene prior to embedding, sectioning, and mounting. Following removal of wax by xylene, coverslips are applied. General morphological and histological features were particularly well differentiated and very selectively and reliably stained by this method.     

Block Staining of Mammalian Tissues with Hematoxylin and Eosin

Various mammalian tissues were stained en bloc with hematoxylin and eosin after fixation and prior to embedding in paraffin wax and sectioning. The choice of fixative is important and best results are obtained using Worcester's Fluid, a combination of saturated aqueous mercuric chloride, formaldehyde, and glacial acetic acid. After fixation, blocks of tissue up to 1.5 cm thick are stained for seven days in hematoxylin. Excess stain is removed by washing tissues in running water overnight. Tissue blocks then are dehydrated with graded concentrations of ethyl alcohols to 80% and counterstained, with further dehydration, in 0.5% spirit soluble eosin in 90% ethyl alcohol for five days. The tissue is subsequently transferred to 90% ethyl alcohol overnight to differentiate eosin staining; dehydration is completed in absolute ethyl alcohol. The blocks are cleared in cedarwood oil and briefly in xylene prior to embedding, sectioning, and mounting. Following removal of wax by xylene, coverslips are applied.

General morphological and histological features were particularly well differentiated and very selectively and reliably stained by this method.     

Observing Pollen Tubes Within the Styles of Zea Mays L.

With the method herein described, pollen tubes of Zea mays L. could be observed within the style, from the exposed stigmatic surface to the base of the style. At different periods after pollination whole ears were fixed and stored in Karpechenko's modification of Navashin's solution. Silks were removed from the ears, dehydrated in an ethyl alcohol series up to 80%, and stored therein. The preparation of the slides was as follows: (1) 50% ethyl alcohol, 2 minutes (2) 15% ethyl alcohol, 2 minutes (3) boiling distilled water, 10 minutes (4) 1% potassium permanganate, 15 minutes for a 4 cm. portion of silk and 1 hour for a whole silk (5) 1% oxalic acid, long enough for the silk to turn white (6) 70% ethyl alcohol, 2 minutes (7) macerating solution (equal parts of concentrated HO and 95% ethyl alcohol), 1 hour (8) 70% ethyl alcohol, 2 minutes or stored until examination (9) lactophenol, 2 minutes (10) mounted in lactophenol and (11) squashed. The preparations were examined with a dark field microscope.     

4个甘蓝型油菜品种一步法快速繁殖体系的建立

采用单因子试验和植物组织培养方法,对4个甘蓝型油菜品种无菌体系的建立以及带芽茎段的增殖和生根进行初步研究。结果表明,4个品种油菜种子最佳的消毒方式为70%酒精消毒30s,再用0.1%氯化汞消毒8~10min;带芽茎段增殖的最佳培养基为MS+6-BA 2mg/L+NAA 1~2mg/L;最佳生根培养基为MS+NAA 2~5mg/L。     

Squash Method for Meiosis in Ovules

The ordinary Feulgen or acetic-lacmoid squash tech-nic following fixation in freshly made Carnoy's fluid (alcohol, 6: chloroform, 3: glacial acetic acid, 1), provides an easy and reliable method of studying meiosis in ovules. After fixation for 1 day, the material was hardened in 95% ethyl alcohol for 1-2 days and taken to water by gradual hydration. For staining by the Feulgen method, the material was hydrolyzed 8-10 minutes in 1 N HO at 58-60°C., followed by staining in decolorized leuco basic fuchsin for 2 hours. The staining was intensified by transferring the material to water. After 15-20 minutes the water was replaced by 45% acetic acid. For staining by acetic-lacmoid, the ovules after fixation, hardening and hydration were transferred to standard acetic-lacmoid stain to which was added 1 drop of 1 N HCl to every 10 drops of stain. Gentle heat was applied till the stain started to give fumes. After allowing 20 minutes at room temperature the material was transferred to fresh acetic-lacmoid. Some 6-12 ovules were mounted either in a drop of 45% acetic acid or acetic-lacmoid, depending upon the Feulgen or acetic-lacmoid staining respectively. Gentle and repeated tapping over the cover glass by a blunt needle loosened the cells of integument and nucellus and finally left the megaspore mother cells undergoing meiosis, fully exposed to view. The process was carried out under constant observation using the low power of the microscope. The desired amount of flattening was brought about by light pressure over the cover glass and gentle heating. The preparations were made permanent by dehydrating in ethyl alcohol and mounting in Euparal.     

Antimicrobial efficacy of alcohol-based hand gels with a 30-s application

Aims: The objective of this study was to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of alcohol‐based hand gels according to European Norm 1500 (EN 1500). Methods and Results: We assessed the antimicrobial efficacy of 12 alcohol‐based hand gels produced in Brazil, containing 70% w/w or v/v ethyl alcohol as the active ingredient, according to EN 1500, with a 30‐s application. In addition, 70% w/w ethyl alcohol and three alcohol‐based hand rubs commonly used in Europe and effective according to EN 1500 were also tested. Eight of 12 (67%) alcohol‐based hand gels produced in Brazil failed by EN 1500. In contrast, 70% w/w ethyl alcohol and European alcohol‐based hand rubs were approved by EN 1500. Conclusions: In this study, the majority of Brazilian alcohol‐based hand gels showed limited efficacy on hand hygiene within 30 s. Significance and Impact of the Study: The findings of this study may be used as an important argument to motivate Brazilian manufacturers to improve the antimicrobial efficacy of alcohol‐based hand gels, because it is prudent to suppose that alcohol‐based hand gels can be recommended for use in healthcare settings only if they show antimicrobial activity at least similar to that of alcohol‐based liquid preparations, including the traditional 70% w/w ethyl alcohol.     

Processing Gossypium Microspores for First-Division Chromosomes

A procedure developed for the observation of the first-division chromosomes of the thick-walled microspores of Gossypium is as follows: fixation in 3:1 ethyl alcohol-propionic acid followed by soaking in 70% alcohol for 24 hr; maceration in a 2:1:1 mixture of 15% CrO₃, 10% HNO₃, and 5% HCl for 5-7 min; hardening in 1.1 ethyl alcohol-propionic acid; and staining in acetocarmine.     

野葛高频植株再生体系相关因子的优化

对野葛高频植株再生体系相关因子进行优化,结果表明,野葛带芽茎段再生体系的最佳消毒方式为70%酒精处理30s后用0.1% HgCl₂处理15min;最佳培养基为MS+NAA 0.5mg/L+6-BA 5.0mg/L;最佳培养条件为:蔗糖浓度30g/L,pH 6.0,液体培养,培养温度25℃,光照培养。     

Simultaneous demonstration of bone alkaline and acid phosphatase activities in plastic-embedded sections and differential inhibition of the activities

Bone alkaline (AlP) and acid phosphatase (AcP) activities were simultaneously demonstrated in tissue sections obtained from mice, rats, and humans. The method involved tissue fixation in ethanol, embedding in glycol methacrylate (GMA), and demonstration of AlP and AcP activities employing a simultaneous coupling azo dye technique using substituted naphthol phosphate as a substrate. AlP activity was demonstrated first followed by AcP activity. Both enzyme activities were demonstrated in tissue sections from bones fixed and/or stored in acetone or 70% ethanol for up to 14 days or stored in GMA for 2 months. AlP activity in tissue sections from bones fixed in 10% formalin, 2% glutaraldehyde, or formal-calcium, however, was markedly inhibited after 3-7 days and was no longer detectable after 14 days of fixation. Moreover, AlP activity was diminished in tissue sections from bones fixed in 70% ethanol or 10% formalin and subsequently demineralized in 10% EDTA (pH 7) for 2 days, and the activity was completely abolished in tissue sections from bones subsequently demineralized in 5% formic acid: 20% sodium citrate (1:1, pH 4.2) for 2 days. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) embedding at concentrations above 66% completely inhibited AlP activity. AcP activity, however, was only partially inhibited by formalin, glutaraldehyde, or formal-calcium after 7 or 14 days of fixation or by MMA embedding and was unaffected by the demineralizing agent formic acid-citrate for 2 days. While AcP activity was preserved in bones fixed in formalin and subsequently demineralized in EDTA, the activity was completely abolished when EDTA demineralization was carried out on bones previously fixed in 70% ethanol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Alcohol-Xylene Versus Dioxane in the Shrinkage of Tissue

A direct measure of tissue volume changes using fluid displacement was employed to compare the effects of the ethyl alcohol-xylene with the dioxane method of tissue processing. Pieces of mouse kidney, spleen, testis and liver were compared after fixation in 10% neutral formalin and during clearing, dehydration and paraffin infiltration. It was found that 24 hr after fixation there was a 25% increase in volume. There was a progressive shrinkage during dehydration and clearing with dioxane to the volume of the tissue before fixation and a subsequent shrinkage of about 20% during paraffin infiltration. With the ethyl alcoholxylene method, tissue volumes returned to initial levels during alcohol dehydration, and progressively shrank with xylene treatment and paraffin infiltration. The final degree of shrinkage was about the same with both methods. This was confirmed from microscopic analysis of tissue components. It is concluded that one cannot use gross tissue shrinkage as the only criterion for selecting one method of tissue processing over another.     

Simultaneous demonstration of bone alkaline and acid phosphatase activities in plastic-embedded sections and differential inhibition of the activities

Summary Bone alkaline (AlP) and acid phosphatase (AcP) activities were simultaneusly demonstrated in tissue sections obtained from mice, rats, and humans. The method involved tissue fixation in ethanol, embedding in glycol methacrylate (GMA), and demonstration of AlP and AcP activities employing a simultaneous coupling azo dye technique using substituted naphthol phosphate as a substrate. AlP activity was demonstrated first followed by AcP activity. Both enzyme activities were demonstrated in tissue sections from bones fixed and/or stored in acetone or 70% ethanol for up to 14 days or stored in GMA for 2 months. AlP activity in tissue sections from bones fixed in 10% formalin, 2% glutaraldehyde, or formal-calcium, however, was markedly inhibited after 3–7 days and was no longer detectable after 14 days of fixation. Moreover, AlP activity was diminished in tissue sections from bones fixed in 70% ethanol or 10% formalin and subsequently demineralized in 10% EDTA (pH7) for 2 days, and the activity was completely abolished in tissue sections from bones subsequently demineralized in 5% formic acid: 20% sodium citrate (1:1, pH 4.2) for 2 days. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) embedding at concentrations above 66% completely inhibited AlP activity. AcP activity, however, was only partially inhibited by formalin, glutaraldehyde, or formal-calcium after 7 or 14 days of fixation or by MMA embedding and was unaffected by the demineralizing agent formic acid-citrate for 2 days. While AcP activity was preserved in bones fixed in formalin and subsequently demineralized in EDTA, the activity was completely abolished when EDTA demineralization was carried out on bones previously fixed in 70% ethanol. These results indicate that bone AlP and AcP activities can be demonstrated simultaneously in the same section using a simple tissue preparation technique and that the activities are retained in tissues fixed and/or stored in acetone, 70% ethanol or GMA, but are differentially inactivated by other fixatives studied, and by EDTA, formic acid-citrate, and MMA embedding.Abbreviations AcP acid phosphatase - AlP alkaline phosphatase - GMA glycol methacrylate - MMA methyl methacrylate - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid     

Chemical inactivation of HIV on surfaces.

To assess whether alcohol and glutaraldehyde are effective disinfectants against dried HIV the virucidal effects of 70% alcohol (ethanol and industrial methylated spirit) and 1% and 2% alkaline glutaraldehyde were tested against cell associated and cell free HIV dried on to a surface. Virus stock (100 microliters) or 10,000 cultured C8166 T lymphocytes infected with HIV were dried onto sterile coverslips and immersed in 2% and 1% alkaline glutaraldehyde and 70% ethanol for 30 seconds and one, two, four, and 10 minutes, there being an additional time point of 20 minutes for cell free virus disinfected with 70% industrial methylated spirit. In addition, virus stock in neat serum was tested with 1% and 2% alkaline glutaraldehyde to see whether the fixative properties of glutaraldehyde impair its virucidal properties. Virus activity after disinfection was tested by incubating the coverslips (cell associated virus) or the coverslips and sonicated cell free virus with C8166 T lymphocytes. The lymphocytes were examined for the formation of syncytia and HIV antigens were assayed in the culture fluid. Both 2% and 1% alkaline glutaraldehyde inactivated cell free HIV within one minute; 2% alkaline glutaraldehyde also inactivated cell free virus in serum within two minutes, but a 1% solution was ineffective after 15 minutes'' immersion. Cell associated HIV was inactivated by 2% alkaline glutaraldehyde within two minutes. Seventy per cent industrial methylated spirit failed to inactivate cell free and cell associated HIV within 20 and 15 minutes, respectively, and 70% ethanol did not inactivate cell free virus within 10 minutes. Seventy per cent industrial methylated spirit and ethanol are not suitable for surface disinfection of HIV. Fresh 2% solutions of alkaline glutaraldehyde are effective, but care should be taken that they are not too dilute or have not become stale when used for disinfecting HIV associated with organic matter.     

Survival of spumavirus,a primate retrovirus,in laboratory media and water

The persistence of a previously characterized spumavirus strain (strain SV-522) was investigated utilizing various laboratory media and waters, including Eagle's minimal essential medium (EMEM) plus 0% fetal bovine serum (EMEM-0%), EMEM-2%, EMEM-10%, Chlamydia transport medium (CTM), phosphate-buffered saline, distilled, estuarine, and marine water, human serum, and the germicides, ethyl alcohol (70%) and sodium hypochlorite (10%). Experiments were performed at 4 degrees C and/or 23 degrees C. Infectivity endpoints were determined in stock aliquots upon initiation of testing and then after 3, 5, 7, and 10 days. The virus was reisolated from all diluents after 5 days at 23 degrees C and in EMEM-10% after 7 days. The virus was detected in CTM, EMEM-2%, EMEM-10%, and estuarine and marine waters after 7 days at 4 degrees C. Differences in the persistence of the virus may be ascribed to temperature and organic load. Water ionic strengths (e.g., estuarine vs. marine water) had no effect on modifying persistence of viral particles. Infectivity of spumavirus was undetectable after 30 s in 70% ethanol or 10% sodium hypochlorite. After 30 min at 23 degrees C, spumavirus infectivity in normal but not heat-inactivated human serum increased by almost 100-fold. Persistence of infectivity of primate spumavirus after 7 days in media and waters, and the agent's infectious potential in the human host, emphasize a need for cautious recognition during the manipulation of primate cells/organs and in the handling of primates themselves.     

Effect of weak doses of ethyl alcohol on the resistance of the frog sartorius to injurious concentrations of that substance]

A study was made of the effect of preliminary maintenance of m. sartorius of the grass frog in 0.87 M and 1.09 M ethyl alcohol on their resistance to 3.48 M ethyl alcohol. The maintenance of muscle tissue in 0.87 M and 1.09 M ethyl alcohol for periods, ranging from 15 min. to 2 hours, in different series of experiments led to the increase in its resistance to 3.48 M alcohol by 11--24% as compared with the initial one. The value of increase in resistance depended on the concentration of the agent studied, the duration of maintenance, and of the season. A study of non-specificity of the adaptive effect of low alcohol decreased their resistance to 0.12 M NaF by 33.3% (P less than 0.05) The same concentration of ethyl alcohol applied for periods from 15 mintes to 2 hours either caused no change or decreased significantly the resistance of muscle tissue to the temperature 36 degrees C. This effect of decrease in resistance was even more significant when the resistance to 38 degrees C was challenged. The range of individual variability of resistance of muscles to 3.48 M alcohol and 36 degrees showns that its values in the control and in the experiment are similar.     

A HYDROXYL-DEPENDENT SILVER METHOD FOR NERVE AXOPLASM

Axoplasm is selectively impregnated by the following steps: (1) fixation in 10% formalin or in 10% formalin with added sucrose, 15%, and concentrated NH₄OH, 1%, for 1-7 days; (2) frozen sections; (3) extraction of the sections in 95% ethyl alcohol, absolute alcohol, xylene, and 95% ethyl alcohol and absolute alcohol, 1 hr each; (4) distilled water, 3 changes of 10 min each; (5) 20% AgNO₃ (aq.) at 25°C, 30 min; (6) distilled water, 3 changes of 1-2 sec each; (7) 6.9% K₂CO₃, 1 hr; (8) water, 3 changes of about 1 min each; (9) 0.2%AuCl₃, 2 min; (10) distilled water; (11) 5% Na₂S₂O₃, 2 min; (12) washing, clearing and mounting. This procedure is proposed as a simplified stain for axoplasm, with other tissue components remaining unstained. The few reagents necessary suit this method for histochemical investigation of the mechanism of silver staining.     

Preparing Specimens of Bone and Teeth for Cutting by the Paraffin Method

A method of preparing bone or teeth for sectioning is described which involves the following steps: 48 hr. in 1:10 formalin; 24 hr. in 70% alcohol; decalcification for several days in 10% HNO₃; rinsing and transferring to 2% potassium alum for 12 hr.; rinsing and treating with 5% NaHCO₃ (or Li₂CO₃) for 24 hr.; washing for 12-24 hr.; then passing through ascending grades of alcohol to xylene. In the case of developing teeth, a slightly different procedure is recommended: fixation in Heidenhain's Susa till hard tissue is decalcified; 24 hr. in 96% alcohol (with three changes); 24 hr. in absolute alcohol (with one change); clearing in xylene or chloroform, and embedding in paraffin.     

Staining Paraffin Sections with Protargol 5. Chloral Hydrate Mixtures, with and Without Formamide, for Fixing Peripheral Nerves

A series of experiments was directed toward finding a means of improving fixation of mammalian glandular tissue and peripheral nerves with chloral hydrate. Specimens from cat, dog, rat, guinea pig, and man were fixed in solutions of 5-15% chloral hydrate in ethyl, methyl, and propyl alcohols, both pure and diluted with varying amounts of water. Modifiers were added, including acids, alkalies, alkaloids, amines, formamide, pyridine, piperidine, and formalin. The sectioned material was stained by the 2-hour method (AgNO₃-protargol) described previously (Davenport et al., 1939). The acidification of alcoholic chloral hydrate mixtures was deleterious to fixation but alkalinization was not. Among the modifiers, formamide was the one which showed definite improvement of fixation. A 10% solution of formamide alone in 50% ethyl alcohol gave good fixation and staining of peripheral nerve trunks, but addition of 5-7% chloral hydrate to this mixture improved staining. Treatment with 1% ammoniated alcohol after fixation and before embedding was of no value in section staining. Block stains were not tried.     

Automated differential staining for cartilage and bone in whole mount preparations of vertebrates

An automated, rapid procedure for differential staining of cartilage and bone of vertebrates is described. The process involves rapid, complete staining of freshly skinned, eviscerated specimens after 30 sec immersion in a 70 C water bath, fixation in formol acetic alcohol and a rinse in 70% alcohol. Using an automatic tissue processor, the specimen is stained in alcian blue for 24 hr and macerated in 3% potassium hydroxide for 8 hr. Staining in alizarin red with maceration in 3% potassium hydroxide is completed manually. The specimens are cleared and preserved in glycerol. Good quality evenly stained specimens can be examined in less than three days and up to 600 fetuses can be processed in less than five days.